ASG: STUDENT CONSTITUTION

ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF CLACKAMAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

STUDENT CONSTITUTION

Approved May 12th, 2000

______________________________________________________________________________

Preamble

We, the students of Clackamas Community College, being vitally interested in our own education, our cultural, social and material welfare, desiring to stimulate and improve democratic student government, and to maintain academic freedom, academic responsibility, and student rights, do hereby establish this constitution. ______________________________________________________________________________

Article I - Names and Insignia

Section I - Student Body

The name of the Association shall be the Associated Students of Clackamas Community College (ASCCC).

Section II - Representative Body

The representative body of the ASCCC shall be known as the Associated Student Government of Clackamas Community College (ASGCCC), and shall consist of an executive cabinet and a senate body.

Section III - Colors

The official colors of the Association shall be white, navy, and scarlet.

Section IV - Name

The official name for the Association groups shall be "The Cougars."

Section V - Seal

The official seal of the Association shall be the same as the college seal.

Article II - Purpose

The purpose of the ASGCCC shall be to encourage, promote, and regulate the activities of the body and sub-organizations under the direct control of the ASGCCC.

Article III - Membership

Section I - Qualifications

Membership in the Association shall consist of all students who are officially enrolled at Clackamas Community College.

Section II - Non-discrimination

ASGCCC will not discriminate based on race, creed, age, sex, or mental or physical disability in any of its policies or practices.

Article IV - Officials

Section I - Executive Cabinet

The Executive Cabinet will set into operation the duties and tasks directed by the President, in accordance with the goals established for the year. The Executive Cabinet shall consist of six members, two elected and four appointed. The elected officers shall consist of the President and Vice President. The appointed officers shall consist of the Administrative Assistant and three Officers-At-Large whose positions shall reflect the ASGCCC goals for the given year. A selection committee as stated in the bylaws shall appoint these four officers.

A. Duties and Responsibilities of the President:

1. The President shall preside at all meetings of the ASGCCC.

2. The President is responsible for being the liaison between the students, the administration, and the Board of Education.

3. The President is an ex-officio member of the Board of Education and is responsible for keeping the board abreast of student needs and student interest.

4. The President shall exercise all rights of the office including:

a. Appointing committees; with the exclusion of selection and election committees

b. Vetoing actions not in the best interest of the students

1. The President can not veto his or her own removal from office;

2. A presidential veto can be over-ridden by a two-thirds vote of the ASGCCC;

c. Sitting on the ASGCCC selection committee. If the President cannot attend, the Vice President may select a substitute.

d. Serving as or appointing the student government representative to President's Council

5. The President shall hold regularly scheduled Executive Cabinet meetings.

6. The President shall provide the leadership in the development and maintenance of all ASGCCC activities.

7. The President shall supervise and evaluate the work of the Executive Cabinet.

8. The President shall provide representation for ASGCCC in meetings of local, regional, and national organizations.

9. Other duties to be performed as needed.

B. Duties and Responsibilities of the Vice President:

1. The Vice President shall assume the office of the President if the office is vacated before the term of office has expired.

2. The Vice President shall preside at ASGCCC meetings and all other functions at the request of the President.

3. The Vice President shall coordinate and appoint all election and selection committees; and he/she shall coordinate all meetings and interviews in cooperation with the ASGCCC advisor.

a. The President shall assign another member of ASGCCC to coordinate the election or selection committee if the Vice President is running for office or is being screened by the selection committee.

4. The Vice President shall supervise and evaluate the work of the Senate.

5. The Vice President shall sit as a member of the Executive Cabinet and work with its members to facilitate the development of ASGCCC.

6. The Vice President shall oversee club organization.

7. Other duties to be performed as needed.

C. Duties and Responsibilities of the Administrative Assistant:

1. The Administrative Assistant shall work with the President and Vice President to manage the records, documents, and budget of ASGCCC.

2. The Administrative Assistant shall sit as a member of the Executive Cabinet and work with its members to facilitate the development of ASGCCC.

3. Other duties to be performed as needed.

D. Duties and Responsibilities of the Officers-At-Large:

1. The Officers-At-Large shall work to achieve the goal(s) and complete the tasks to which they have been assigned in accordance with the goals for the year.

2. The Officers-At-Large shall sit as members of the Executive Cabinet and work with its members to facilitate the development of ASGCCC.

3. Specific duties shall be outlined in a position description developed following the establishment of ASGCCC's goals for the year.

Section II - Senators

The bylaws shall set the number of senators to hold office at any given time as well as the responsibilities of the senators. Senators shall be selected for the ASGCCC in accordance with the selection process outlined in the bylaws.

Section III - Duties and Responsibilities of all ASGCCC Members

All ASGCCC members shall:

1. Attend all ASGCCC meetings and sponsored events.

2. Attend all assigned committee meetings and report to ASGCCC on those meetings when called upon to do so.

3. Work closely with all other ASGCCC members to keep them updated and to facilitate the promotion of a strong student government.

4. Represent ASGCCC in assigned college clubs, organizations, and committee meetings and report to ASGCCC when called upon to do so.

5. Complete five hours of ASGCCC work per week in the Student Activities office. This does not include meetings.

6. Work at least 15 hours per week on ASGCCC work.

7. Obey the Behavior Code.

8. Learn and understand basic parliamentary procedure.

9. Abide by the Constitution, Bylaws, and Administrative Rules.

10. Shall have the right to dissolve committees by a 2/3 vote of its members.

Section IV - Qualifications

All officials shall be currently enrolled at Clackamas Community College. Senators and officers must maintain a term GPA of 2.5 or cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better. All officers must register for and complete a minimum of 10 credits per term during their time in office. All Senators must register for and complete a minimum of 8 credits per term during their time in office.

If an official fails to meet these requirements, he or she shall be removed from office. A process for appeal is detailed in the bylaws. If the official is re-instated, but fails to meet the GPA or credit requirements the following term, he or she will be removed from office with no consideration for appeal.

Section V - Removal from Office

1. By ASGCCC

A. Non-elected members

Any member of ASG may request the removal of a non-elected member of ASG. A request for removal is to be solely based on the member's failure to perform his or her duties as outlined in the Constitution, Bylaws, or Administrative Rules. Removal from office requires three-fourths approval of the ASGCCC and is effective immediately.

B. Elected members

Initiated by ASGCCC of an elected member of ASG. After obtaining a three-fourths approval of ASGCCC, a vote of the ASCCC shall be held. Impeachment requires a two-thirds approval of the ASCCC.

2. By ASCCC

A. Any member of ASCCC may initiate the process to remove an ASG member. To initiate the process 100 signatures must be petitioned. A request for removal is to be based on the member's failure to perform his or her duties as outlined in the Constitution, Bylaws, or Administrative rules. Removal of an elected official requires approval of two-thirds votes cast of ASCCC, and removal of a non-elected member requires three-fourths vote of the ASGCCC.

Section VI - Terms of Office

No elected official shall hold an office for more than one year without being re-elected to that office. No appointed official shall hold an office for more than one year without being re-appointed to that office.

Any person replacing an official shall serve for the remainder of that official's term of office.

Section VII - Vacancies

If both the President and Vice President positions should become vacant at the same time, the Administrative Assistant shall assume the presidency. The selection process outlined in the bylaws shall then be used to fill both the Vice President and the Administrative Assistant positions.

If any position other than President should have a mid-term vacancy, the selection process outlined in the bylaws shall be used to fill the position.

Article V - Appropriations

Section I - Committee Establishment

There shall be an Appropriations Committee, comprised of the following members: the Vice-President, who shall serve as committee chair, and four members from the ASGCCC. All members shall maintain voting rights. The guidelines regulating the operation of the Appropriations Committee shall be outlined in the Bylaws and/or Administrative Rules.

Article VI - Meetings

Section I - Regular Meetings

Regular meetings shall be held every week during the fall, winter, and spring terms. The day and time ASGCCC is to meet shall be established by the ASGCCC President prior to registration for the term and shall remain constant throughout the term.

Section II - Special Meetings

Special meetings of the ASGCCC may be called by the President or by a majority of the ASGCCC as per the bylaws.

Section III - Quorum

1. For a vote of ASGCCC to be official, a quorum must be present.

2. Fifty percent plus one of ASGCCC shall constitute a quorum.

Section IV - Rules of Order

ASGCCC shall vote at the first meeting of fall term at which a quorum is present as to the method of governance for the weekly meetings. A change in rules of order may be enacted by majority vote of the ASGCCC at any weekly meeting.

Section V - Attendance

Any official absent from three regular ASGCCC meetings in one term will be automatically removed from office. The chairperson will notify the body of the official's removal from office at the next regular ASGCCC meeting. All absences from official ASGCCC committee meetings will be treated as absences from regular ASGCCC meetings. Only one absence may be counted per day. No absences will be excused, except those mandated by law or by a three-fourths vote of the ASGCCC.

Article VII - Clubs

Section I - Responsibility of Clubs

All student groups organized in the interest of the ASGCCC or its activities are responsible to the Association for their actions.

Section II - Organization

Any group or club desiring to organize shall present to the ASGCCC Vice President a constitution, which must be approved by a majority vote of the ASGCCC designated committee in order for the club to be recognized by the ASGCCC. Any change in a club's constitution must be approved by a majority vote of the ASGCCC Clubs Committee. All clubs and organizations shall submit their constitutions and budgets to the Student Activities office, and shall keep said information current.

The Constitution shall take effect when it has passed the ASGCCC by a two-thirds vote and has been ratified by two-thirds of the votes cast in an election of the ASCCC.

An amendment is considered to be an addition of a section or an article to the present Constitution.

Creation of an amendment to the Constitution shall conform to the following guidelines:

1. An amendment to the Constitution can be initiated by any student of ASCCC by way of a petition containing one hundred signatures from the ASCCC or by a two-thirds vote of the ASGCCC.

2. The proposed amendment shall, after having been posted for two-weeks, be presented by ballot to the ASCCC, where it must receive two-thirds of the votes cast, after which it shall become an amendment to the Constitution.

A revision is considered to be a change in the wording, grammar, or punctuation, or clarification of the present wording, grammar, or punctuation. Correction of typographical errors shall not constitute a revision.

1. Revisions to this Constitution are to be brought before the ASGCCC, which shall refer the revisions to a Constitutional Review Committee. After being reviewed by that committee, a two-thirds vote of the ASGCCC shall be required for approval of the revision.

Repeal of this constitution is considered to be an annulment of the current Constitution and replacement of it by a new Constitution.

1. A repeal of the Constitution can be initiated by any student of the ASCCC by way of a petition containing 100 signatures from the ASCCC or by a two-thirds vote of the ASGCCC.

2. The proposed Constitution shall, after having been posted for two weeks, be presented by ballot to the ASCCC, where it must receive two-thirds of the votes cast, after which it shall be considered ratified, and its provisions will take effect.

3. If the proposed Constitution fails to be approved by the ASCCC, the original Constitution shall stand.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Bylaws shall be the means whereby the precepts of the Constitution are outlined. All the Bylaws are subject to revisions at any time deemed necessary and shall be subject to the approval of the ASGCCC.

In order to be passed, the Bylaws must be approved by a ¾ vote of the ASGCCC. Once a bylaw is passed, it shall take affect immediately.

The ASGCCC Selection Committee shall consist of five active members of the ASGCCC and a representative from the Student Activities Department. In the event that there are not enough ASGCCC members to fill the criteria of the Selection Committee, the Selection Committee Chair person with the ASGCCC Advisor shall appoint a Student Ambassador to fill in. There must be a majority of ASGCCC members on the committee.

The Selections Committee shall be responsible to fill the following fourteen student representative positions:

The term of office of members of ASGCCC shall be defined as the last day of classes spring quarter or date of selection through the last day of classes of the following spring quarter.

Due to conflict of interest, no member of the Clackamas Community College classified staff bargaining unit, faculty bargaining unit, supervisor, administrator, or confidential employee shall be allowed to run for or hold any student body office.

Any person running for an elected position must hold a cumulative GPA of 2.75 and must be enrolled in a minimum of 10 credits at Clackamas Community College for the term that the elections take place. Any person running must serve at least two terms on Student Leadership (CCC Student Government and CCC Student Ambassadors) prior to position.

No funds or monies of the ASGCCC are to be donated, spent or contributed to any organization or concern not directly affiliated with the Clackamas Community College district, students, faculty, staff, or campus.

Special meetings may be called by the ASG president or Executive Committee with 24 hours notice.

Specific duties shall be outlined in position descriptions developed according to ASGCCC's goals for the year. Senators shall work to achieve the goals and complete the tasks which ASG sets as priorities.

Senators at Large are required four hours per week towards ASGCCC goals Senator at Large must complete a minimum of six credit hours per term.

Election Committee: The Elections Officer shall establish an Elections Committee. No person running for office or working on a candidate’s campaign may be a member of the Elections Committee.

Election Timeline: The Elections Timeline shall be set by the Elections Officer and be approved by the Elections Committee and posted two weeks prior to the candidate application deadline. The nomination petitions shall be due one week later. The elections shall occur after two weeks of campaigning.

Briefing: After the candidate application deadline, the Elections Officer shall hold an elections briefing to inform all applicants on the elections code and elections procedures. Each applicant shall receive a copy of the pertinent Bylaw sections. The Elections Officer must make a reasonable attempt to inform candidates of any changes made to the Bylaws which will go into effect prior to the announcement of the winners.

Voting: At least one polling place shall be open to voters a minimum of eight hours per day for two consecutive days and shall be under the supervision of the Student Activities Office or a member of the Elections Committee.

Any write-in vote shall be considered valid if the vote is cast for an ASCCC student that meets all of the candidate requirements.

Counting Ballots: The ballots will be counted by ITS, a minimum of two Election Committee members and a representative of the Student Activities Department shall be present at ballot tabulation. Each candidate may have one observer present during vote counting. Observers must be silent and must not obstruct the counting process in any way. Suspected violations should be reported to the Elections Officer. ITS will provide ASGCCC with a printed report of votes cast.

Online Voting: ASGCCC online elections shall be conducted via a secure server. Students may cast their votes without supervision of the Election Committee. Students may vote from any computer, on or off campus.

Nomination Petition/Candidate Status: Each applicant is required to submit a nomination petition containing 100 current ASCCC student signatures by the deadline established by the Elections Officer. The nomination petition must be an official ASGCCC elections form.

Upon the submission and validation of the nomination petition applicants become official candidates for ASGCCC elected offices, and may begin campaigning as such.

Nomination signatures collected prior to the elections briefing shall be declared null and void.

Persons running for President and Vice President must campaign individually and publicity must be of an individual nature.

It is the responsibility of each candidate to be aware of coherent campaign material that is being circulated. They should be further aware of anyone who is representing their campaign and, in turn, are responsible for monitoring his or her actions. If the candidate believes anyone associated with his or her campaign is practicing activity that is deviant from election policies, they are to immediately report the individual to the Elections Committee. Candidates may be held responsible for the actions of their campaigners.

Campaigning: Campaign signs meeting the following criteria may be used after obtaining the permission of Plant Services:

2) Campaign signs are not permitted in the lawns, but may be placed in raised shrub areas. Stakes must be placed as close as possible to the concrete edge. Signs should not be tied or nailed to plants or plant roots.

Supplies: All campaigns have access to use specified amounts and types of ASG supplies, as set by the elections officer during the elections briefing.

Posters: Posters shall be no larger than 72" by 36", with a limit of two large posters per candidate, per building. “Large” is defined as any poster bigger than 8 ½” by 14”.

All campaign posters must clearly state candidacy, including the candidates name and desired position that is visible from 5 feet away from the poster.

No campaign publicity is allowed inside the building of the polling places. All campaign publicity inside the same building as the polling places will be removed before the polls open.

Candidate posters may only be removed by the elections committee before and during the elections.

All campus rules pertaining to distribution and posting of materials are to be followed. It is the candidate’s responsibility to be aware of these rules.

Candidates are responsible for removing all publicity on campus within one week of the election results being announced.

Candidates for office and those running unofficial campaigns must not allow a member of their campaign staff to continue to campaign for them after having been prohibited from doing so by the Elections Committee.

Those running non-official campaigns: Individuals who are not officially recognized candidates must abide by campus posting rules.

Those running non-official campaigns are responsible for following all Bylaws except those pertaining to submission of a nomination petition.

Violations: Violations of the Elections Code by a candidate may disqualify him or her from the election. Written complaints must be submitted to the Elections Officer or Student Activities Office employee, and will be forwarded to the Elections Challenge Committee.

An Elections Challenge Committee shall be established to conduct a hearing upon submission of a written complaint. The Election Challenge Committee shall consist of five members including the Elections Officer and four non-ASG students.

Challenge of the voting process must be filed prior to the beginning of the tallying process.

Challenge of the tallying process must be filed prior to the announcement of the winner.

Any challenge of the election process must be registered in writing to a member of the Elections Committee or a Student Activities Office employee. The Elections Challenge Committee must determine the following by a simple majority vote:

A written copy of the Elections Challenge Committee decision must be submitted to the person accused of the violation. The accused person may request a hearing if he or she is not satisfied with the Elections Challenge Committee decision.

The chief responsibility of the officers-elect is to learn the duties of their positions.

If a member of ASGCCC is terminated from office and chooses to appeal the termination, the following process must be followed:

Within three business days of written notification from Executive Council of termination, the subject wishing to appeal must submit a letter requesting an appeals hearing to the acting chair of the Appeals Committee.

The Appeals Committee chair shall be an ASG officer selected by the ASGCCC Executive Cabinet and shall exclude the president.

The committee chair is responsible to provide all pertinent information to the Appeals Committee. The information when applicable shall include, but not be limited to the following documents of the person appealing:

After the appeals hearing, the Appeals Committee has the following options which must be agreed upon by a majority vote by the committee:

1) Reinstate the subject of appeal to the status of probationary member. The terms of probation shall be outlined by the ASGCCC appeals committee.

2) Reinstate the subject of appeal as an active member without any probationary terms.

The decision of the committee must be made within five working days after the letter requesting an appeal is submitted to the Appeals Committee chair.

The subject of appeal has the option to give an oral statement of appeal to the Appeals Committee.